Pole-climbing scaffold.



A. BERG.

POLE cuwlm scAFr'o'Ln. APPLICATION E'lLElllEEB. 5f 1918.

1,299,289.- Patented Apr. 1,1919.

, 3 sHEETs sHEET 1.

A. BERG.

POLE CLIMBING SCAFFOLD.

APFLlcATloN FILED FEB. s, 19m

1,299,289. Patented Apr. 1,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET- 2.

A.' BERG. POLE CLIMBING SGAFFOLD.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. IQIB.

1 ,299,289. Pfvntedl Apr. 1, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

AUGUST BERG, 0F BROWNSVILLE, WASHINGTON.

POLE-CLIMBING sininroiin.`

Specification of Letters Patent.

` Patented Apr. i, 1ere.

Application led February 5, 1918. Serial No. 215,557.

To all whom t mag/concern:

Be it known that l, AUGUST BERG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brownsville, in the county of Kitsap and State ofWashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pole-Climbing Scaifolds; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to `improvements in scaiolding and has for itsobject to provide a simply constructed and inexpensive, yet a highlyefiicient and durable scaffold which will climb poles, trees and thelike.

With the foregoing general object in view, the invention resides in thenovel features of construction and unique combinations of parts to behereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawings which form apart of thisspecification and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improvedscaffold;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a partial topv plan showing the manner in which one of theside frames may be swung outwardlyV for passage of the device around apole or the like; n

Fig. f1 is an end elevation partly4 broken away;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the meansV for steering one of the poleengaging rollers;

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section on the plane of the line 6&6 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the plane indicated by the line 7-7 ofFig. 4;

Figs. 8V and 9 are perspective views of the two slides and portions ofthe shaft which extend between them; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of one of the bearings to be described.

Briefly speaking, the invention consists of a frame structure` tosurround the pole or tree, and pole engaging means mounted on saidstructure and including one or more driven toothed rollers, one side ofthev frame being capable of swinging outwardly as shown in Fig. 3 sothat the device may be passed around a pole or the like or removedtherefrom whenever necessary.

'The structure above mentioned consists of a side frame F, upper andlower` transverse bars 1 and 2 extending rigidly therefrom, and a secondside frame F which is pivoted to said transverse bars upon a verticalaxis. Frame vF includes vertical end bars 3 and 4, a tie rod 5 and brace6 extending between them, and upper and lower pairs off horizontaltracks 7 also extending between said bars. (See Fig. 6.) It is to theupper and lower ends of the end bar 3 that thetransverse bars 1 and 2are rigidly secured in any preferred manner.

Frame F includes end bars 3 and 4, a tie rod 5 and brace 6 extendingbetween said end bars, and upper and lower pairs `of horizontal tracks7', the ends of the bar 3 having vertical trunnions 8 passing throughthe adjacent ends of the transverse bars 1 and 2, whereby frame F ispermitted to swing outwardly to the position shown in Fig.

Extending between the frames F and F adjacent the transverse bar 1, is atoothed roller 9, the shaft 10 of said roller being rotatably mounted insuitable bearings 11 and 12, the former being formed by the inner end ofa horizontal supporting arm 13 for a platform or the like, whereas thebearing .12-isbolted or otherwise secured to the inner surface of theendbar 3. Arm 13 is `provided with an opening lathrough which the end bar 3passes loosely, said bar being provided with a collar 15 upon which saidarm rests. Another `arm 13 extends from theend bar Bin the same planewith the arm 13, so that the tw`o coperate in -supporting a suitableplatform or the like.

One end of shaft 10 extends beyond the -frame F and isvprovided with aworm gear 16 with which a worm 17 meshes, one end of said worm beingsupported by an inclined army 18 which rises from the bearing 12,whereas an appropriate bearing 19 is secured to the end bar 3 forsupporting the other end of the worm.: Any suitable means such as a handcrank17a maybe employed for rotating worm 17 and when this is done itwill be obvious that the climbing roller 9`will be rotated. Rotation of`this roller also drives a similar roller 20 located below the same, anda third roller 21 spaced horizontally from roller 9. A fourth roller 22is provided beneath the roller 21, but this roller is not driven.

A beveled gear 23 is carried by the shaft 10 and meshes with a pinion 24on one end offa substantially horizontal shaft 25, the otherv end ofsaid shaft passing slidably through a pinion 26, which meshes with abeveled gear 27 on the roller 21. Gear 23 also meshes with a pinion 28on a vertical shaft 29 whose lower end is provided with a pinion 30meshing with a gear 31 rotatable on the shaft 32 of roller 2O andsecured to said roller to drive the same, said roller being rotatable onsaid shaft. One end oi shaft 25 is rotatably supported by an ear 33which extends from the bearing 12, whereas an appropriate bearing 34supports the other end of said shaft. Bearing 12 is also provided with ahorizontal ear 35 which rotatably carries Athe upper end of shaft 29,whereas the lower end of the shaft is suitably7 mounted in the bearing36.

The rollers 2l and 22 are rotatably mounted on their shafts 37, theopposite ends of said shafts being provided with slides 38 and 39 whichoperate between the tracks 7 and 7 respectively, the slides 38 beingprovided with ribs 4:0 positioned on opposite sides of the tracks 7 sothat the slides may not .move laterallyT from said tracks, Whereas eachslide 39 is provided with one rib only on its upper as well as its lowerside,

these ribs being indicated by the reference numeral 41 and being adaptedto contact with vthe innersides of the tracks 7 These tracks, however,are free to move laterally from the slides 39 when the :trame F is swungoutwardly.

Each frame F and F', is provided with 'upper and `lower adjusting rods42 ositioned between the tracks thereof fors ifting the .rollers 21 and22 into tight engagement with the poleor tree `as vindicated in Figs. 1and 2. The rods 42 pass slidabl through the end bars 3 and 3 at one enwhereas the other ends of said rods are connected with the slides 38 and39, coiled springs 43 being positioned on said rods be- 'tweenthefaforesaid end bars and nutsorthe like 44 on said rod, whereby saidlsprlngs exert their tension to retain the rollers 21 AforinstanceinFig. 6, but in `order thatthe :rods 4:2 for adjusting the slides 39 vmay`swing outwardly with the frame F', said slides 39 are provided Vwithforks 45 .in which said rods are received, vertical pins or the like 46being passed through said forks for holding the rods in place until itis necessary .that the frame F be swung outwardly.

In order to steer the device `during itsver- Atical movement, I lmountthe roller 2O so thatoneend thereoffmay-be raised and lowered asrequired. Gne end ofthe shaft 32 of roller 2O is loosely mounted in abearing 4:7

carried by a collar 48 through which the lower end of the end bar 3passes rotatably, saidcollar being held against vertical move ment bysuitable pins or the like 49. The other end of shaft 32 is looselymounted in a bearing 50 slidably carried by the end bar 3 and preferablyhavinga dovetail connection 5l therewith. A rod 52 is shown rising fromthe bearing 50 through an ear 53, and a nut 5ft is threaded onsaid rodabove the ear so that adjustment of this nut will So shift the rod andbearing as to steer the roller 20, .thus `permitting the entire machineto be steered during its travel. It

will of coursebe understood that the angular movement of the shaft 32 isslight and that sufficient clearance exists in the bearings of thisshai't to permit such movement. 1n order to retain the' pinion 30 andthe gear 31 in mesh, however, during adjustment of roller 20, saidpinion is preferably slidable upon the shaft 29 and the bearing 36 isconnected with shaft 32 by `a suitable arm such as that shown in Figs. land 5.

ln operation., the frame il" is swung outwardly to the position of Fig.3 so thatthe entire structure may be passed. around a pole or tree asindicated in Figs. 1 and This having been done, the frame in question iSagain moved inwardly to its proper position and the pins i6 then droppedYinto place, so that further outward movement of the iframe isprevented. The rods Al2 are now Vadjusted to `force all rollers intoproper engagement with the pole or the .like'and lwhen a platform issupported upon the arms 13- 13 or upon other suitable parts of thedevice, the latter is in conditionfor use. Turning of thecrank 117a orother driving Ameans provided, will now rotate the rollers 9, 20, and21, so that lthe `machine will climb the pole to the required elevation.lt will Ibe1ob served that no means other than the rollers is necessaryfor locking the scaffolding in any adjusted position, due tothe factthat the worm and worm gear 17 and 16 respectively, will not permitretrograde movement of these rollers. Vhenever necessary, the nut 54 maybeadjusted to so steer the machine as lto cause it to properly followthe pole or tree :upon which it is used.

From Lthe foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,it will be `obvious that although my invention is of comparativelysimple and inexpensive \nature, it will be vhighly efficient anddurable.

Since probably the best results are obtained `troni the several specificdetails shown and described, these details are preferably employed, butI wish itunderstood that within the scope 'of the invention Aas claimed,nu-

merous minor 'changes may well be made I claim:

1. A 'pole-climbing scalold comprising a side frame fordisposition atone side ofthe pole, upper and lower bars extending laterally from oneend of said frame, a second side frame pivoted on a vertical axis tosaid bars for disposition at the side of the pole remote `from saidiirst named frame, climbing means including a pole engaging rollerextending between the two frames, and a detachable connection betweensaid roller and said pivoted side frame.

2. A pole-climbing scaffold comprising a side frame for disposition atone side of the pole, upper and lower bars extending laterally from oneend of said frame, a second side frame pivoted on a vertcial axis tosaid bars for disposition at the side of the pole remote from said firstnamed frame, climbing means including a pole engaging' roller extendingbetween the two frames, each of said side frames having a pair ofhorizontal tracks, slides for supporting the ends of said roller, saidslides being movable between said tracks and the tracks of said pivotedfra-me being movable away from their respective slide when said frame isswung outwardly, adjusting rods for said slides ositioned between saidtracks, the slide a ja Cent the pivoted frame having a laterally ingrod, and means for retaining said rod in said fork until outwardswinging of the pivoted frame is required.

3. A pole-climbing scaffold comprising a frame structure and climbingmeans mount ed thereon, said climbing means including upper and lowerrollers to engage one side of the pole, and means Jfor steering one ofsaid rollers.

4f. A pole-climbing scaold comprising a frame structure and climbingmeans mounted thereon, said climbing means including upper and lowerrollers to engage one side of the pole, and means for raising andlowering one end of one of said rollers to steer the machine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

AUGUST BERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

